LAS CRUCES, N.M. — Natasha Munday advanced to the finals in the Crimson Singles Draw and she teamed with Yue Lin “Polly” Chen to take third place in doubles, highlighting a solid weekend at the Aggie Invitational.
Overall UNM went 8-6 in singles and 3-1 in doubles. Kicking off tournament with a great start, Munday opened in Round 16 with 6-4, 6-2 win over Bhargavi Kalaga from New Mexico State. Following that that, she defeated Harsha Challa from NMSU in the quarterfinals 6-1, 1-6, 1-0 (13), and the she added another win in semifinals against Lindsay Harlas 7-5, 6-2. The win over Harlas gave her three straight wins over Aggies.
On Sunday, she went up against Kirsten Prelle from UTEP, but she saw her winning streak end there, losing in the championship 6-4, 6-2.
Ruth Copas made it to quarterfinals beating NMSU’s Neus Torregrosa 6-2, 3-0, (Ret.). Copas lost in the quarterfinals to Prelle UTEP 5-7, 6-4, 10-6. Another Lobo made it to quarterfinals; Yue Lin “Polly” Chen who defeated Vanessa Valdez of UTEP 7-5, 6-1. She fell short though against Rebecca Keijzerwaard of New Mexico State 6-0, 6-3.
Madelyn Chavez was the lone Lobo in the White Singles Draw, and after taking a loss against Chloe Gavino of NMSU 6-4, 6-0, she went on a big comeback in the backdraw to take the backdraw title. She first beat Christine Roerick of Western New Mexico 6-0, 6-3. She then advanced to the backdraw semifinals, knocking out Jaidyn Snitker of Mesa Community College 6-2, 6-1.
That put her in the consolation final, where she beat UT-Permian Basin’s Anastasia Obreque 6-1, 6-2.
UNM only submitted one doubles team, and they went 3-1. Chen and Munday went opened the Round of 16 against Madison Hoeltin of UTEP and their own teammate Maddie Chavez where they won 6-0, 6-1. They followed that up with a 4-6, 6-4, 10-3 over UTEP’s Erandi Martinez and Rine Nozaki. In the semifinals, the Lobos fell short against Lindsay Harlas and Harsha Challa of NMSU 6-3, 1-6, 10-7.
That dropped UNM into the third-place match, which they won over New Mexico State’s Bhargavi Kalaga and Rebecca Keijzerwaard 5-7, 6-1, 10-4.
The Lobos have a few weeks off before returning to action at the ITA Regionals in Las Vegas.Crimson Singles
Round of 16
Ruth Copas d. Neus Torregrosa (NMSU) 6-2, 3-0(Ret.)
Yue Lin “Polly” Chen d. Vanessa Valdez (UTEP) 7-5, 6-1
Natasha Munday d. Bhargavi Kalaga (NMSU) 6-4, 6-1
Quarterfinals
Natasha Munday d. Harsha Challa (NMSU) 6-1, 1-6, 1-0 (13)
Kirsten Prelle (UTEP) d. Ruth Copas 5-7, 6-4, 10-6
Rebecca Keijzerwaard (NMUS) d. Yue Lin “Polly” 6-2, 5-7, 1-0 (8)
Semi Finals
Natasha Munday d. Lindsay Harlas (NMSU) 6-7, 6-2, 1-0 (9)
Finals
Kirsten Prelle (UTEP) d. Natasha Munday 6-4, 6-2
Quarters
Harsha Challa (NMSU) d. Ruth Copas 7-5, 4-6, 10-8
Yadira Rubio (NMSU) d. Yue Lin “Polly” default
White Singles
Consolation Finals
Madelyn Chavez d. Anastasia Obreque (UTEP) 6-1, 6-2
Doubles
Round of 16
Chen/Munday d. Hoelting/Chavez (UTEP, UNM) 6-0,6-1
Quarterfinals
Chen/Munday d. Martinez/Nozaki (UTEP) 4-6, 6-4, 10-3
Semifinals
Harlas/Challa (NMSU) d. Chen/Munday 6-3,1-6,10-7
3rd Place
Chen/Munday d. Kalaga/Keizerwaard (NMSU) 5-7, 6-1, 10-4
Weekend Recap: Aggie Invitational
